Cong demands immediate rollback of LPG price hike

The All-India Mahila Congress on Wednesday demanded an immediate rollback of the recent LPG price hike and sought the resignation of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, saying the country was facing rising inflation and gas shortage.

Addressing a press conference here, Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working under pressure from US President Donald Trump and warned that the country could face higher inflation and LPG shortage as a result of decisions affecting crude oil supplies.

She remarked that India’s oil policy had been influenced by pressure from the US administration, which, she said, had used the Epstein files and a case against PM’s industrialist friend Gautam Adani to blackmail him.

Alka Lamba maintained that due to this pressure, India had reduced crude oil purchases from Russia, resulting in an emerging energy crisis. Citing a statement by Trump's press secretary, Lamba said according to the official, India had stopped buying oil from Russia under pressure from Trump, and had now been given a one-month exemption.

Lamba also criticised Union Petroleum Minister Puri, pointing out that despite his earlier assurances of adequate LPG stocks, the country was now witnessing shortage in several states, with people forced to stand in long queues for cylinders.

She said the price of domestic LPG cylinder had been increased by around Rs 60 and commercial cylinder by around Rs 115, adding that the hike was an additional burden on common citizens already struggling with inflation.

The Mahila Congress president further said the decision regarding oil availability in India was being influenced externally and accused the government of surrendering its foreign policy autonomy.

Targeting Puri, she said the minister should be accountable to the people of the country, but he is not coming forward to answer questions regarding the gas shortage and the rise in prices. She sarcastically said while people in the country were worried about inflation and gas shortage, the Prime Minister is campaigning in the election-bound state of Tamil Nadu instead of answering questions in Parliament.

Alka Lamba disclosed that when Mahila Congress members protested peacefully over the issue outside the residence of the Petroleum Minister, the police registered FIRs against her and other party workers.